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The Urban Sustainability Framework (USF) is structured in two parts, along with annexes that explore the good practices of specific cities and organizations and the positive results of their initiatives. Part I: Understanding and Achieving... Read more

The supply of affordable and adequate housing has been overwhelmed by the demand of the millions of rural poor who have migrated to cities in hope of finding better employment, health care, and better educational opportunities. According to UN estimates, the urban population of the developing world alone will increase from 2.7 billion in the year 2011 to 5.1 billion by 2050. To accommodate the... Read more

Smart city initiatives are gaining traction in Africa and the Middle East (AME) due to increasing rates of urbanization that has been placing pressure on city services. The urban population in the region has increased from over 20% in 1960 to about 45% by the end of 2015, according to the UN. Scarcity of resources and chaotic nature of rapidly expanding cities are also pushing the governments to... Read more

Innovative, technologically sophisticated operators of ride-hailing networks, car- and bicycle-sharing systems, mobile trip-planning and ticketing apps, and other new mobility services are winning users in cities around the world. Their reception suggests that city dwellers need transport options that are more convenient and flexible than those offered by traditional private transport companies... Read more

The co-benefits of urban liveability for the economy, social inclusion, environmental and social sustainability, and public health are now well recognised by all levels of government in Australia and internationally. Liveable communities are safe, socially cohesive and inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. They have affordable housing that is linked (via public transport, walking and... Read more

The sustainability of urban logistics is an important issue for rapidly growing cities worldwide. Although many cities have developed strategies to move people more efficiently and safely within the urban environment, much less attention has been paid to the importance of delivering goods to people at work and home. It is an issue hiding in plain sight, as urban infrastructure is often not... Read more

The unprecedented population growth in Africa and its projections followed by a high rate of urbanization are resulting in a growing number of huge urban agglomerations – cities and megacities. That phenomenon creates opportunities for the continent, but it also raises concerns about low levels of development and diminished quality of life among the majority of urban residents. African cities are... Read more

For the seventh consecutive year, Melbourne in Australia is the most liveable urban centre of the 140 cities surveyed, closely followed by the Austrian capital, Vienna. In fact, only 0.1 percentage points separate the top two cities, and just 0.2 and 0.3 percentage points separate Canada’s Vancouver and Toronto (ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively), from Melbourne. Another Canadian city, Calgary,... Read more

Urban mobility is a key differentiator for competitiveness. Cities that keep moving have a more vibrant economy and attract more inward investment. They’re more attractive places to live and work.
Technology and improved infrastructure play a huge role in shaping mobility – but the biggest factor in improving urban travel is human behavior. Introduction Reimagining the travel experience Some... Read more

Cities are rising as powerful agents in the world of food, says a new report from the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), and they are finding innovative ways to put in place policies that take on challenges in global food systems.
The report, presented today at the EAT Stockholm Food Forum by lead author Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Centre for Food Policy... Read more

A new study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates that 4.2 million people in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean and in the Pacific are living in areas that are prone to flooding due to rising sea levels.
In addition to coastal erosion, rising sea levels are expected to negatively impact economic output and employment and could aggravate inflation and cause an... Read more